Crystal Bay, NV Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Crystal Bay, Washoe County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Crystal Bay?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged heavy snow or a winter storm on 241 days in the Greater Lake Tahoe Area forecast zone and Washoe County — the most common reported hazard around Crystal Bay, mostly in December and January. Next come high winds (128 days) and damaging thunderstorm winds (36 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 241 | Apr 2026 | Dec 27, 2006 · $15,000 damage |
| High winds | 128 | Feb 2026 | Dec 11, 2014 · $250,000 damage |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 36 | Jun 2026 | Jul 13, 2002 · $5,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 26 | Jun 2026 | Jun 19, 2026 · $5.0 million damage |
| Flooding | 18 | Jul 2024 | Jan 8, 2017 · $7.0 million damage |
| Avalanches | 9 | Dec 2025 | Dec 15, 2002 · 1 death |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 5 | Jun 2013 | Jun 28, 2013 · $300,000 damage |
| Debris flows | 3 | Jul 2025 | Jul 30, 2025 · $20,000 damage |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, 1996–2026 (the latest year is partial). A "day" is a date with at least one report in the Greater Lake Tahoe Area forecast zone and Washoe County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Crystal Bay get?
A normal year brings about 179 inches of snow to Crystal Bay, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Tahoe City weather station 8.7 miles away. The snowiest month is usually February (41.3 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.4 | 9.4 | 36.2 | 37.9 | 41.3 | 34.7 | 14.0 | 2.8 |
Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.
Which radars cover Crystal Bay?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KRGX (Reno, NV), about 46 miles northeast. Radar beams climb as they travel, so the height of the lowest scan over town decides how low in a storm the radar can see.
| Radar | Distance | Lowest beam over Crystal Bay | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KRGX Reno, NV | 46 mi northeast | 3,200 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KBBX Beale AFB, CA | 89 mi west-northwest | 8,100 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KDAX Sacramento, CA | 103 mi west-southwest | 10,100 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
Beam height is the center of the 0.5° scan above the radar, with standard refraction. Mountains near a radar can block it further.
Tornado & hail history near Crystal Bay
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 6 tornadoes within 25 miles of Crystal Bay. Most came in August and September. The strongest was an EF0 on July 8, 2015, which touched down about 18 miles south-southwest of town. The most recent was an EF0 on September 21, 2017, which touched down about 13 miles south of town.
Hail: 37 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 1 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 2.00-inch hail on July 23, 2003.
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center — tornadoes 1950–2025, hail 1955–2025. Distances are to each tornado's track; ratings before February 2007 use the original Fujita scale.
On TALON you get Crystal Bay's live radar loop, rain/snow/ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks with arrival times and NWS warnings free; close-up radar and rotation detection are part of TALON Pro.
Crystal Bay radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Crystal Bay, NV?
KRGX (Reno, NV), about 46 miles northeast. KBBX (Beale AFB, CA) is 89 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Crystal Bay?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Crystal Bay the lowest scan from KRGX is about 3,200 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Crystal Bay free?
Yes — the US radar loop, rain/snow/ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and NWS warnings are free in any browser. Close-up radar, rotation detection and longer forecasts are part of TALON Pro.
Should I rely on radar for my safety?
No app replaces official warnings. When the National Weather Service issues a warning for Crystal Bay, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Carson, NV radar 15 mi
- Reno, NV radar 23 mi
- Sparks, NV radar 28 mi
- Fernley, NV radar 49 mi
- Yerington, NV radar 51 mi